Chapter Twenty-Five
“So, what can we do to help those mutated people?” Torrent asked.
I looked around the table at my husbands. “Any ideas?”
Odin said, “I'm afraid if anyone tries to heal them by destroying the flu virus, it might kill them. If they are the disease, curing them would mean death.”
“And they're not technically ill,” Re added.
We sat in silence for a few minutes, and then I sat up straighter. “Have the mutations sparked any outrage toward Azrael?”
“I haven’t seen anything online,” Torrent said. “I’m guessing people are scared to speak out against the Faerie God.”
“Good.” Azrael crossed his arms and stared out the open balcony doors.
I couldn't blame him. Yes, he'd done a number on the Earth as the Faerie God, but when he'd gotten back in control of himself, Az had tried his best to make amends.
He'd taken what the Faerie God had done and turned it into an opportunity to better the world.
But it had been an endless battle that had threatened us, the Fey, and those affected by the Wild Magic.
Azrael spent a lot of time in meetings and traveling around the world to impress upon people the need to treat each other and the world with kindness.
The Fey’s arrival on Earth presented him with a new set of problems. They weren't even his people, but the Wild Magic made them so.
Azrael had to pave the way for them in human society and smooth any fears that arose.
Despite his power, it had been exhausting.
He could have become a tyrant, forcing people to obey him, but he didn't want that.
Az was hoping to leave governing the world to humans and interfere only when necessary.
We'd faced mobs, cults, fey mischief, apple-stealing Angels, a faked second-coming of King Arthur, and then the trickster.
Through it all, Azrael had to take responsibility for the actions of the Faerie God, the Fey, and the Gods who started masquerading as Fey.
Oh, and let's not forget that he has to guard the Elemental Well and the Fey orchard.
It was too much for one man to shoulder.
Even with our help, Azrael was at his breaking point.
My phone buzzed. I checked my messages to find a text from an unknown number. After reading it, I frowned. “Why is someone texting me about seeing Agwusi in Portland?” Then I jumped up and grabbed the Herald. “Oh, it's working! We've got our first tip!” I ran for the door.
“Vervain, where are you going?” Re called.
“Portland, Oregon!” I shook my phone at him.
The men ran after me, some getting in the elevator with me while the rest took the stairs. We met up in front of the tracing room.
Odin grabbed my arm before I could go in. “Hold on, Vervain. We need to decide on a location.” He looked around. “Anyone know somewhere we can trace to in Portland?”
“Somewhere near the Asylum,” I said.
“There's an asylum in Portland?” Odin frowned.
“Uh, maybe, but I'm talking about a food truck pod. That's where they were seen.”
“Agwusi is taking a break to eat at a food truck?” Viper asked. “I kinda love that.”
“We can't just trace into the middle of a food truck pod,” Odin growled.
“I'll take us through the Internet.” Torrent went into the tracing room. “With a location in mind, we can go faster, and we can survey the area before I drop the vein.”
“Good idea,” Odin sounded relieved.
“Great, I'm glad you're pleased. Can we go now?” I motioned at the door.